lost contact Jax the Bat/Doctor-Franken-Stein

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

I've been having some problems with an artist I have commissioned.
Some may know him by the name Jax, which he goes by on FurAffinity (however inactive he may be now).  He also has two accounts on DeviantArt, his regular one and one where he goes by the alias doctor-franken-stein.  When I noticed he was opening up for commissions, I decided I'd give it a go, since I really enjoy his art style.

So I sent him a note detailing on what I wanted, included character references and got an email back giving the OK, telling me how much to pay and what Paypal address to send it to.  Me being the prompt and upright guy I try to be, I sent the money immediately (note this was on March 28th, 2010).  Things went fine for a while,  I sent another note asking on status a few weeks after the commission, no reply.  Then he posted a journal on his FA and DA saying those who he owes commissions to send details to his new commissions specific email.  So I did, and got a reply not long after saying he was still in the works on it (April 21, 2010).  I replied with it with understanding and proceeded to wait more.

I waited about two weeks and sent another email asking on the status (sent on May 02, 2010) and got a reply a week later (May 09, 2010) with a predictably unspecific reply on the details.  Instead of me replying back immediately with my usual "Okay, that's fine, I understand", I just waited.  I waited for two months before I finally sent another email asking for an update (first email sent was on July 09, 2010), and of course, that one went unnoticed.  So I sent another email one the 17th, and one more on the 29th.  Still no word back.  Finally, I sent another email yesterday saying that if I don't hear back from him this month with either proof he's been working on it (a sketch) or a refund, I will file a complaint with Paypal and try to get my money back.  After seeing him post a few sketches and pictures to his DA account, I sent another email saying, "hey, I see you've been posting some stuff on your DA account.  Could I possibly get an update on my commission?"  and that has yet to yield a reply of any kind either.

I am tired of waiting and not getting any replies, it's been almost 3 months now with no word at all on progress.  I either want my art, or want my money back.   I know I didn't pay a lot for the commission, but I'm in the process of moving to a new apartment, and money is tight for me right now.  I need some suggestions on how to deal with this and hopefully get a response.

So here I am A_B, warning you of Jax's actions as well as requesting advice on how to get a reply from him and/or get my money back.

EDIT:  I finally got a reply today from Jax (August 15th, 2010) saying only "I'll have your stuff done in a few days."
Here's hoping he's sick of my persistence and is finally going to finish it just to get me of his back!

So to everyone else out there who has had trouble with Jax, that's the way to go.  Persistence.

Comments

[canineatheart.livejournal.com]

There seem to be a couple other unhappy customers that have commented on his FA page. One of those people is threatening him with a lawsuit and the other has waited over 4 years for a suit. So it seems like you're not the only one having a problem with him.

[growly.livejournal.com]

God. Doesn't he have enough commissions? As far as I know he still has a fursuit backlog the size of Texas.
It's very disappointing to see he's run away under a different name and continues to take on new commissions while people have been waiting four years.

[tobekiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I wish I know when I commissioned him. =(

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Jax is one of those people you should never commission, because you will be a very lucky person to ever see your art or money. I've seen him posted all over for stealing from commissions for about the last five years, maybe longer than that; however there are surprisingly very few posts about him within artists_beware, according to the tags... Last I've heard, he still owes people both artwork and fursuits and he possibly has for years.

I could be totally wrong, here. I haven't exactly been keeping track of his recent activity. What I do know is that his history has been so bad that I would never tell anybody to commission him. It's a real shame, he was one of the first artists I saw online and felt inspired by, and I would have loved to be able to trust him to draw one of my characters for nostalgia's sake.

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just don't get it. I commissioned him for a conbadge a long time ago, and he had it finished AND SENT in a very timely manner. I did also commission him for a fursuit, which took some time (a bit more than I liked), but I was persistent and finally got it, so when he opened up for commissions, I thougth "ok, digital commissions should be something he can get done easily and quickly, and it doesn't even have to be mailed or anything"

Guess I was wrong.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

People tend to be more reluctant to put more popular artists up on here. There's more of a backlash and potential for drama for doing so.

[cesarin.livejournal.com]

I agree, he as a loong story of taking way too many commissions, dissapearing, changing names, then returns in hope noone remembers what he owes and again repeats the cycle.

[kadaria.livejournal.com]

This.
For as unreliable as it can be, Jax has an ED article that used to archive all the people they had ripped off for fur suits or artwork. I stumbled across it a few years ago and I'm not surprised that things haven't changed.

I don't understand why people are so forgiving of this artist. They've dug this hole themselves.

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Jax still owes me a new pair of feet and some compensation art but I loss contact with her ages ago. I should consider myself I got my fursuit out of her at all!

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

Through some sleuthing and with help from my girlfriend, I actually tracked down her home phone number, and it was pestering her through that, that finally got me my fursuit.

I may have to do that again if I don't hear from her this month.

[genkigami.livejournal.com]

Good luck. Jax has lots of jilted commissioners to her/his/? name. Just from what I hear, you have to harass them every waking moment to get anything out of them.

As great as their work is, I wouldn't commission them because it just seems like the risk outweighs the reward.

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

Yeah, needless to say this is the last time I will be commissioning her.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Not a surprise with this one. It took over a YEAR to get two easy as pie journal icons done that I paid for of a character of mine. I actually had to post here about him/her in regards to that, it took that long.

I was lucky I got them, now that I know what he/she is like. Definitely not someone who is really trustworthy in regards to commission work.


I'm hoping you get what you paid for though. But like it did for me it could take FOREVER.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Please refrain from namecalling! Thank you.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Jax is unfortunately notorious for this kind of behaviour. Good luck with getting anything out of them.

[wolf-goat.livejournal.com]

It's really unfortunate, Jax's art is really awesome and I still love it. Hearing they've run off to a new account though and taking more just makes me lose a ton of respect.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

Seeing these always makes me sad. Maker of some of the only tooney suits I love, and would be one of if not my #1 costume maker choice were it not for the almost guarantee of never seeing my commission.

But sadly, as everyone else has said, this is no surprise coming from him.

[anuvia.livejournal.com]

Funny enough; I love Jax's suits too, but after seeing friends commission him for one, I would never commission him.

As I recall, keihound commissioned a suit from him, waited two years and then finally got a half assed, ugly suit that was rushed to avoid issues.

[casteddreams.livejournal.com]

Sigh, this makes me sad. Especially since my husband is still owed a full fursuit body + paws from years ago, and hasn't heard a word in a very very long time. :\

Hearing about this making if an alias and taking more work is a disappointment, honestly. Jax already owes enough people at this point.

I'd honestly not count on getting your commission at this point, if you do, you are one of the lucky few. :\ I hope you do though, so best of luck.

[tobekiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I was in a VERY similar situation with Jax. It wasn't until I threatened legal action did suddenly my suit appear.

He mailed it, monthes late, with one update given a day before I left for AnthroCon. When I got there, I was told Jax wasn't coming all of a sudden, and would be mailing it. I got it after some pestering all day in the lobby, and when I put it on, the eyes were severely wrong. Meaning, one eye is actually a lot higher then the other, and therefore, I am forced to look out one eye to see, which makes my astigmatism 10xs worse and actually makes me ill to wear longer then an hour.

It wasn't until the third time I put my head on, did I notice the hot glued hair/wig was pealing right off on the one side, almost looking like it was never attached. I can't reach Jax to get a fix /He was already annoyed at me for forcing him to finish my suit or show pictures/

I've only worn the suit 4 times /all 30 mins to an hour and a half long/ in the years I've had it, and the way its falling apart, is like I've been wearing constantly for a week.

I've considered it a lost cause. Jax will take your money, stop responding, and if you DO get your work, its poorly made, almost like he purposefully did it to spite you. =(

Good luck.

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

Thankfully I must say I have been pleased with the work got for my fursuit, apart from a small torn seam around one of the fingers in the paws which I was able to fix myself, it's been quite reliable and has held up well the many times I have worn it.

I'm sorry to hear your suit did not turn out as well as you had liked.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

Have you notified him that you have posted here??

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have sent an email as well as a note through DA not long after I posted here. I doubt it will gather much response.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Not sure why people keep giving this guy money, he must be terribly charismatic or something :/
I hope you can get your money back, because I sincerely doubt you'll get your art, track record considered.

[foxydude915.livejournal.com]

As long as I get something, I'll be happy, whether it be the art I'm owed or a refund, I'll take whatever I can get.

Though I feel if he doesn't have the money and a refund isn't possible, he may just have to get my art done with.

But like I said, I'll take either.

[angeloftheodd08.livejournal.com]

http://doctor-franken-stein.deviantart.com/ is active again...just to let you know. I followed her for her Soul Eater art previously unaware of her drama and former nickname.